MEET THE BAND 11/1: Beitthemeans

Friday

Nov 1, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Beitthemeans plays Saturday at Green Bar. The group from Sylacauga talked with Tusk this week, spilling how it plans to communicate its message through music and discussing its new album dropping in February. Josh Jones from the band answers a few questions.

By Kaitlan CollinsSpecial to Tusk

Beitthemeans plays Saturday at Green Bar. The group from Sylacauga talked with Tusk this week, spilling how it plans to communicate its message through music and discussing its new album dropping in February. Josh Jones from the band answers a few questions.

Q:How did the band get started?

A:In 1998, I was looking to start a band; I’d been playing guitar for several years. I asked a friend if he knew anyone who played bass and he replied with knowing Casey Wilson. So when I asked where to find him, unfortunately the answer was easy: He was at his dad’s funeral. So I went and asked him if he wanted to start a band. We played in various bands with different local guys and played pretty much anywhere people would listen. Around 2002, our band played with Nathan Kelley’s band, Beitthemeans at The High Note in Birmingham. Not long after, both bands were lacking members so we teamed up, and that is how the current Beitthemeans was formed. We were actually a four-piece then. The other guitarist/singer played lead and sang most of the songs back then. Eventually the other member quit the band, which left the three-piece you hear today.

Q:Who makes up the band and what do they contribute?

A:I play guitar and sing vocals, Casey Wilson plays bass, and Nathan Kelley is on drums.

Q:How would you describe your sound to audiences who are unfamiliar with your music?

A:That’s a hard question, because we’re a rock ’n’ roll band that doesn’t wear makeup or scarves. I mean, we know there are plenty of successful “rock” bands out there that we can outplay. But unfortunately, the music industry doesn’t gauge success by talent anymore. We don’t like to be categorized with other bands or genres because we’ve truly tried to make something of our own. But we’re definitely rock ’n’ roll. You’d just have to hear it for yourself.

Q:Where have you been playing and what are some of your upcoming shows?

A:We pretty much play all over the Southeast. Georgia (specifically the Atlanta area) has been really good to us, and the Carolinas are like our second home. We have a few shows booked for November, but we’re trying to get everything in place for our new album that will be releasing in February. But we usually stay on the road quite a bit and keep our shows updated on our website and Reverbnation regularly.

Q:Do you have any recordings available? If so, where can they be found?

A:We have two albums available currently. Our most recent, “Head Held High,” and our first album, “Crude Alabama Storytellers,” you can find on our website, www.beitthemeans.com or wherever you buy or listen to music online. We will have a new album coming out in February. We are recording with Daniel Farris at Ol Elegante Studios. We’re really excited about how the album is unfolding and can’t wait for people to hear it.

Q:What are your short-term and long-term goals for your music?

A:Our short-term and long-term goals are pretty much the same. We try to write music that we love, and work as hard as we can to get as many people to hear it as possible. Whether we’re still doing the same thing we’re doing now or we’re the biggest band in the world, we’re going to work harder and continue to write music we’re proud of. Those two things will never change.